Liberal Forum

I fully expect to get several stupid and/or insulting comments.  I also anticipate having my comments taken completely out of context by several posters here. 

Since I have several points I wish to make, this will be in two parts.  If you take the approach...TLDR...don't bother asking questions of me, they will be ignored, as will questions that are not related to any of my comments.  If that bothers you, feel free to not waste your time and stop reading now.

I often see liberals call me (and others) a fake Christian because of how I vote.  Never mind the obvious hypocrisy of them whining that the US is not a Christian nation while criticizing Christians for not voting their faith.  With that in mind, when I came across a Bible verse it made me start thinking.  I will be using The Message version because I think it is worded better for a group of people of several (and no) faith.  Rather than quote the verse, then make comments I am opting to pick out the four things it instructs and comment on them in order. For those who are curious, the verse is 1 Peter 2:17.  It instructs us to be good Christian citizens...an area where i openly admit I fall short and will probably fall short again in the future, but I will try to do better.  So, a good Christian citizen should:

1 - "Respect the authorities, whatever level, for they are God emissaries...".  I feel this is very clear.  I may not like, respect, support or agree with the elected official.  However, I believe God, as part of his plan that is not clear to me, put them there for a reason.  That does not mean I have to support their "agenda", but they deserve my respect due to the office they hold.  Will I occasionally say bad things about them?  Of course, I am not perfect. It is similar to the saying "hate the sin, love the sinner".  I am capable of hating their agenda (beliefs), but should respect them as a person.  Hate nobody as a person, hate their actions.

2 - "Love your spiritual family" - People of every faith will most certainly face, at some level, abuse from those who disagree with them.  Because of that, we should support, help, strengthen and lift up our Brothers and Sisters in faith.  Don't expect the government to do the things Jesus charged you to do yourself.  Obviously, that is easy to do locally.  Across the country and around the world, do so with you prayers and gifts.  I may not be able to travel and physically help them, but I can do my part to ease their task.

...continued...
 
 
 

To finish my thoughts...

3 - "Revere God". There will be time when an employer or the government at all levels will enact laws that are in absolute contradiction to my religious beliefs. At those times, I should stand by my beliefs, live the teachings of God and respectfully and peacefully refuse to comply. However, those times should be exceedingly rare. In the other times the laws simply go against what I believe...we will simply agree to disagree. I will not support your program, but I will not start hating on you. The approval of God if far more important to me than the approval of my government. I am fully prepared to suffer the consequences that may arise from my refusal to comply.

4 - "Respect the government". That does NOT mean I will not work hard to elect others who agree with my beliefs while following the law (with the exception described in #3) . Our form of government is simple to understand. If enough people of a like mind, vote for enough people that agree with them, they get to make the rules. If that goes against my wishes, it is up to me to work on finding enough people to elect people who will change the laws/policies. Remember, I have never, and will never, look to an elected official as an example of how I should conduct myself or live my life. Government is there to establish parameters...the details are given by a MUCH higher authority.

While I couched my comments around Scripture, I feel much of it is applicable to everyone.  There is nothing wrong with hating the policies of someone.  You can even hate their actions.  But NOBODY should be hated...not as a person.  I absolutely disagree with most liberal policies...but I have, and will continue, to do my best to not hate them.
 

ConsRule » 03 Nov 2024, 6:35 pm » wrote: ↑

03 Nov 2024, 6:35 pm

To finish my thoughts...

3 - "Revere God". There will be time when an employer or the government at all levels will enact laws that are in absolute contradiction to my religious beliefs. At those times, I should stand by my beliefs, live the teachings of God and respectfully and peacefully refuse to comply. However, those times should be exceedingly rare. In the other times the laws simply go against what I believe...we will simply agree to disagree. I will not support your program, but I will not start hating on you. The approval of God if far more important to me than the approval of my government. I am fully prepared to suffer the consequences that may arise from my refusal to comply.

4 - "Respect the government". That does NOT mean I will not work hard to elect others who agree with my beliefs while following the law (with the exception described in #3) . Our form of government is simple to understand. If enough people of a like mind, vote for enough people that agree with them, they get to make the rules. If that goes against my wishes, it is up to me to work on finding enough people to elect people who will change the laws/policies. Remember, I have never, and will never, look to an elected official as an example of how I should conduct myself or live my life. Government is there to establish parameters...the details are given by a MUCH higher authority.

While I couched my comments around Scripture, I feel much of it is applicable to everyone.  There is nothing wrong with hating the policies of someone.  You can even hate their actions.  But NOBODY should be hated...not as a person.  I absolutely disagree with most liberal policies...but I have, and will continue, to do my best to not hate them.

Great post...it takes great fortitude to state what you did...

"render unto Caesar" comes to mind as GOD installs leaders for the greater good...while humanity continues to disappoint...

but one never knows, your post may have a positive effect on someone here...